Summary

Richard stalked the halls of Rouen like a tamed lion, but one that still had claws, and might turn on you if you came too close. And Geoffrey could never resist baiting his brother. With King Henry gone to Caen to collect their mother, whom he had once again released from her imprisonment, this time for Easter, and John floundering away in Ireland, there was no one else for the two of them to direct their energies towards. The knights and courtiers took bets as to which would strike the first blow, with the prevailing wisdom being that no matter who began it, Richard would surely end it.

Summary

Philip's journey from Paris was the shorter distance, yet he arrived later, almost as dark was falling. Richard, knowing his tactics well, refused to be goaded so easily into impatience. "I'll wager you wish you hadn't burned the bridge at Porte Joie now," he said cheerfully by way of greeting. "You could have been here in time for dinner. It was splendid, by the way. We saved you some scraps."